Bulkhead structure and the like



Feb. 14, 1928. I 1,658,855

' F. J. PLYM BULKHEAD STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE Filed March 15, 1926 &

- 5 lain/1001.10

Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

"UNITED TATES rrsnro FicE.

raANcIs J. PLYM, or vILEs, MICHIGAN nssranon T was xnwu'snn COMPANY, or

NILES, MICHIGAN, A oonrcnarrou or monrean. I

I BULKHEAD STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE.

The present invention relates to structures usually termed bulkheads andmore particularlyof. the type used .in connection with store windows andthe like. Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novelbulkhead structure of rigid and unitary construction, one free of contraction and expansion under the varying climatic temperatures; one freefrom swelling, cracking, Warping, sagging, bowing, and other likedefects peculiar to wood and other like fibrous material and resultingfrom humidity conditions; one that is fire-proof, Water-tight,non-corrodible, and practically indestructible, as well as acting as anefficient fire stop; one that is rigid, solid, strong andv permanent,and yet having a beautiful and attractive appearance; one having meansfor ventilating. and also transmitting light to thespace beneath thewin- 7 dow floor or the. like; and one that can be readily, quickly andcheaply assembled and built. i In a specific embodiment illustrating theinvention, the bulkhead is preferably of a single, integral "piece of,concrete or concretionary material, and this may or may not be coveredby or clad with sheet metal facings or the like. When using claddings,the

shapes and sizes thereof are preferably such as to afford readyassembling oftheparts to form spaces therebetweenin which theconcretionary material may be poured and allowed to set or harden, thusforming, the structure in place, the facings'or claddings preferablyforming a permanent part-of the structure and giving an attractive andbeantiful appearance, besides acting as the pouring form for thematerial of the structure. WVhere claddings are to be omitted, pouringforms of any suitable nature may be used and later removed. It is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the use of concretionarymaterial norto the use of other filling material that may be vlocated inor packed in the spaces formed by the pouring formsorthe facings orcladdings, and around the connecting parts.

As another object, the invention comprehends a structure that willprevent the war-pr ing, sagging, distorting and disalining of the windowsash supporting the pane of glass or the breakingof the pane of glass,thus giving the glass a solid and secure foundation 'claddings, butcomprehends the use of any or support which is free from expansion,contraction. twisting, warp ng. or the like,

usually p'eculiarto wood-and like construe.-

tions. r i The invention also comprehends the for ing of the structurewith passages or open-. ings fol-the ventilation of thespace below thefloor and also forthe transmission of light, windows, grids, grilles andthelike be:

'ing preferably provided at the openings or passages, such as at theinnerandouter ends of such passages, for controlling the same.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities and features are comprehendedbythe invention as will later appear and are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation with.parts broken away and shown in section of a bulkhead construction builtin accordance with the in vention.

Fig. Qis 'a horizontal sectional View taken in aplanerepresented by line22 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. I I, l

Fig. 3 is. a vertical transverse section taken in a plane represented byline33 in Fig.

1 of the drawings.

I And, Fig. 4 is'a view similar to Fig. 3 of another embodiment of theinvention.

Referring now more in detailto the drawings of the embodiments selectedto illustrate the invention, one is shown as comprisinginnerandoutersheet metal wall facingsl and 2 provided atintervals withopposed or alined openings?) and 4, with the walls at such openingsprovided or formedwith inwardly directed or projecting flanges 5 and61surroundin such openings, the'flange 5 having a bent back portion 7and the flange 6 having a bent in flange portion 8 as clearly showninFigs. 2 and 30f the drawings. To these bent portions of the flanges areconnected transverse hollow membersS) having end flanges 10 and 11 whichflange 10 has an inwardly directed flange portion 12 fitting into thechannel formed by the bent back portion 7 of the flange 5, and theflange11 hav'inga bentback portion 13 forming a channel for the reception oftheflan'ge por- 'tion 8 of the flange 6. Inthis way the ends of thehollow members,arelocked and sealed with the flanges oftherrear or'innerfacing or cladding 1 and the outer or front facing or cladding 2, thusholding these facings in spaced relation and also providing spacesbetween the hollow members 9. These hollow members may be of any desiredshape, as -rectangular, or other forms as desired.

The facings l and 2 are preferably provided at their upper andloweredges with inwardly directed flanges 1t, 15, 16 and 17 as clearly shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings.

These parts of sheet metal or the like may be supplied in standard sizesand forms, and assembled to any dimension of window and may be readilyassembled in place as shown. When so assembled, the space between thefront and rear walls and around the tubular members 9 may then be filledor packed with any desired filling material, or filled by pouringconcretionary material, such as concrete and the like, into such spaces.To efiect this result, the sheet metal parts in assembled forms arepreferably supported upon a sill or other like foundation l8 and mayalso, if desired, carry wood strips 19 and 20 to which the floor 21 mayeventually be secured, as by nails or screws when a wooden floor isbeing used. ()ther floors may be used such as tile, stone, brick or thelike, in which even the strips 19 and 20 may be omitted. Theconcretionary material may then be poured and leveled with the topsurfaces of the members 19 and 20, or other given level, and when thesame has set and hardened, the window sash 23 and the pane 2r carriedthereby may be assembled in place with the sashresting upon the flange16.

At the inner side of the casement, the inner facing may continueupwardly and inwardly to form a continuous ceiling facing or cladding 1as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The material 22 above thisfacing may be reinforced by any suitable means 22*, such as wire, rods,mesh fabric and the like, and to hold the facing in place suitableanchors 1 may be carried thereby and imbedded in the material 22 asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

From the above it will be apparent that the bulkhead is of a singleunitary and integral construction with the sheet metal or other facingsforming a permanent part thereof, and being solid and free of all thedisadvantages and defects of prior constructions, and will form a veryeii'icient and advantageous support for the glass window and floor.

The hollow members 9 are provided for the purpose of either permittingthe passage of air for the ventilation of the space he neath the floorQlor for the transmission of light or both. The openings at the ends ofthe hollow members, such as the openings 3 and 4 may be provided withsuitable closing members such as grilles, grids, or windows. In the formshown, the inner opening 3 has a window 25 of sheet metal sashconstruction and a glass 26, this window being held in place by a hinge27 secured to the sa h of the window and also to the wall 1. Any

suitable means may be used for holding the window in latched condition.

At the other end of the hollow member may be providedany suitable meanssuch as a sheet of material 28 either of transparent characteristics orprovided with suitable openings or slots for the passage of air and thelike. This member 28 may be secured to the flanges 11 as desiredas byscrews or bolts 29.

While the embodiment above described comprehends claddings or the like,the invention may comprehend the construction of a casement without suchfacings, claddings and hollow members, except possibly to as formerswhich may be removed when the material 22 has suiiiciently hardened tostand alone. Such a structure is shown in section in Fig. 4E and ascomprising reinforcing means 22 of anysuitable form, and having passages9 for the transmission of light or air or both, the material 22 beingmounted upon a sill 18. Instead of using metal facings at the exterior,facings 2 of tile, marble, stone, brick and the like or other suitablefacing material may be used. Preferably, these facings are provided withopenings opposite the outer ends of the passages 9 for the reception ofgrids, grates, grilles, or transparent members 28 held in place by anysuitable securing elements 29 such as expansion bolts and sockets 29",the latter being imbedded in the materialQzZ as shown.

\Vhile I have herein described and upon the drawings shown a fewillustative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood thattheinvention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions,details, arrangements of parts and features without departing from thespirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

' l/A, bulkhead structure for store win dows comprising a sill or othersolid foundation, a monolithic concrete wall supported from said silland having a transverse passage therethrough, the inner and outersurfaces of said wall and passage being covered with sheet metal and awindow floor and window located above and supported by said Wall.

2. A. bulkhead structure for store windows comprising a sill, amonolithic concrete wall supported from said sill and having atransverse passage therethrough, a window and window floor above andsupported by said wall, the inner and outer surfaces of said wall beingfaced with sheet metal, the surfaces of said passage being faced withsheet metal and means for connecting the metal faces of the passage tothe faces of the inner and outer surfaces of the wall. I i

3.1%. bulkhead structure for store windows comprising a sill,amonolithic concrete block supported by said sill, a window sash andwindow pane mounted on the upper portion of the front wall of saidblock, said block having a transverse passage therethrough, sheet metalcladdings for the front and rear of said block and-for the surfaces ofthe transverse opening, said claddings havinginterconnecting flangedportions. p

4,, A bulkhead structure for store windows comprising a sill and amonolithic concrete block thereon having a transverse opening for lightand air, said'block having a rearward overhanging extension, and awindowand window floor mounted on and supported by said block and rearwardextension.

5. A bulkhead structure for store win dows comprising a sill and amonolithic ing a transverse opening for light and air,

said block having a rearwardoverhanging extension, a metallicreinforcing through said block and extending longitudinally through saidrearward extension, awindow sash and pane mounted upon the front ofsaidblock and a window floor mounted upon the top of the block andrearward extension. V I

6. A bulkhead structure of store fronts comprising a supporting sill, amonolithic concrete block supported thereby and provided with atransverse opening, said block having an overhanging rearward extension,

a window and windowfloor mounted upon said block and extension, thefront and rear faces of said block having sheet metal claddings,.sa1drear cladding extending over the bottom face of said overhangingextension of the block.

faces and passage faces, and a window sill and window floor mounted uponthe upper faceof said poured block.

8. A bulkhead structure for store windows comprising a sill and amonolithic concrete .wall poured in position upon said sill andprovidedwith a rearwardly overhanging integral portion, a window and a windowfloor supported by said wall and rear ward extension, said wall having apassage for permitting the entry of light and air andmeans at the outerend of said passage for closing the same. a

'10. A bulkhead structure'for store windows comprising afoundationalsupport, front and rear sheet metal members, pro vided with opposedopenings, hollow sheet metal members connected to said front and rearmembers at said opening to form passages through the structure and alsoto form a pouring space about said hollow members and between said frontand rear members, poured concretionary material in said space andforming a single rigid mass, said members and Said mass forming a rigidunit, a window and window fioor mounted upon said unit, and meanssecured in the ends of said hollow members for closing said openingswhile permitting transmission of light through said structure.

11. A bulkhead structure for store windows comprising a foundationalsupport or sill, a concrete monolithic wall on said support and having atransverse opening therethrough for the passage of light therethrough,and a window sash and'winldow floor mounted upon and supported by theupper surface of said wall.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

FRANCIS J. PLYM.

